On the Ionospheric Holes of Venus
Abstract
One of the most intriguing unsolved mysteries that endures from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter is that of ~1000km wide ``Holes" in the nightside Ionosphere. The phenomena remains unexplained, despite their frequent observation during the first three years of the mission, and more than thirty years having elapsed since their first description in the literature. We present new observations by the ESA Venus Express of Ionospheric Holes at very high altitudes, providing us with the opportunity to study this fascinating phenomena with modern instrumentation. We discuss the insight that these new data give us into the effect of Ionospheric Holes on atmospheric escape, and the evidence that suggests that Ionospheric Holes are due to an internal planetary magnetic field.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013AGUFM.P12A..08C
- Keywords:
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- 6295 PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS Venus;
- 2459 IONOSPHERE Planetary ionospheres;
- 5435 PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLID SURFACE PLANETS Ionospheres;
- 7899 SPACE PLASMA PHYSICS General or miscellaneous